Trading Up

The next day Punk was at Jack's used car dealership eyeing up the cars.

"Why are you being so picky?" Jack groaned following him around the lot.

"I need something safe." Punk reminded him.

"You think I'd sell you an unsafe car? Give me a break." Jack scoffed

"I also need something practical for the baby but something I'll also enjoy driving." Punk told him.

"What about AJ? She doesn't want a say, don't you two share a car?" Jack asked.

"AJ is an awful driver. I don't trust her driving herself let alone my daughter." Punk scoffed going back to a black SUV.

"Third time at this one." Jack said to him. "Want to check it out?"

"Yea, pop the hood." Punk instructed and Jack did that.

"This one is practically brand new." Jack told him. "Not many miles, last years model."

"I don't think I can swing this one." Punk admitted.

"I think you could." Jack shrugged. "Your truck is in good shape."

"My truck is an 89." Punk chuckled.

"Some would call it a classic." Jack argued. "I think we can call this an even trade."

"It's not even." Punk said to him.

"It is to me. It's my lot." Jack told him.

"I don't need any favors." Punk told him sternly. "I'll scrap up the cash to pay the difference."

"You have a kid on the way." Jack reminded him. "Hold onto all the cash that you can. Girls are way more expensive then boys anyway."

"No they're not." Punk snorted then gave it some thought. "How so?"

"Their clothes are more expensive, all of those little dresses and matching little socks. When she gets older all of their crap is a lot more money. She'll need money to shop and buy those expensive designer handbags." Jack warned him and Punk's eyes widened. "And girls love jewelry." He added.

"So, even trade?" Punk asked Jack has he closed the hood of the SUV and Jack nodded.

"Excuse me." A man interrupted . "Can I get a quote on my car?"

"Yea just give me a minute." Jack said to him. "You got an ID on you?"

"Yea here you go." The man said passing it to him.

"I want to check it out fully." Punk told Jack referring to the SUV.

"You think I'd give you a lemon?" Jack asked shaking his head. "No fucking trust." he mumbled.

"Go help this guy and I'll inspect the car." Punk told him.

"Alright Daren Daniels." Jack said reading the name out loud and Punk froze and looked at the man. "Let's see what you have-"

"Daren Daniels?" Punk asked stepping in front of Jack and looking at the man directly in the face.

"Yea." the man said to him. "Do I know you?"

"You were a professor weren't you? At the local college?" Punk asked and Jack eyed Punk.

"I was." Daren nodded then smiled. "Were you a student of mine?"

"No but my wife was." Punk said amused. "Maybe you remember her, AJ?"

"Look-" Daren started.

"You assaulted my wife!" Punk yelled grabbing him by his shirt. "You dragged her down an alley-"

"Stop!" Jack yelled pulling Punk off of Daren.

Before Punk could react Jack punched Daren in the face so hard he hit the floor. Jack climbed on top of Daniel and began hitting him repeatedly. Punk was in shock but eventually acted when he saw Daren bleeding and dragged Jack off of Punk.

"Are you fucking crazy?" Daren asked holding his busted lip.

"Get off my fucking lot!" Jack yelled reaching for Daren again but Punk grabbed him.

"I'm calling the cops." Daren warned them then literally ran off of the lot.

"Why did you do that?" Punk hissed at Jack.

"You were going to hit him." Jack pointed out.

"Yea, you should have fucking let me! I've been dreaming of killing that guy for over a year now." Punk told him coldly.

"That's why I hit him." Jack said to him. "You've got a wife and now a kid you can't go around hitting people. You'll end up in jail."

"You're the one who is going to end up in jail!" Punk hissed. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"A night in lock up." Jack snorted with a wave of his hands. "It's the least I could do for you. Besides I wanted to hit him too."

"I don't need you to do that shit for me. I'm capable of defending my wife myself." Punk said to him.

"You've always acted first and thought second some shit never changes!" Jack yelled. "You're not a kid Phil, you'll get locked up and you wouldn't have stopped and you would be in deep shit. I'm not saying you're wrong to want to hurt him but you just need to think first now."

"I've been waiting to meet him. I've been waiting to get my hands on him and you fucking stole my moment." Punk said shaking his head. "I don't need your fucking help, I've never needed it so fuck off."

"Come on now." Jack sighed as Punk stormed off.

"Keep your truck!" Punk yelled as he stormed off the lot.

AJ walked into Punk's shop at close to midnight. He hadn't come home and told her he was working late so she decided to check in on him. She wasn't afraid of him lying, she was worried because she could tell he was upset about something. She packed him up some food and walked over to the shop. She knocked at the door a couple of times until finally Punk opened the door.

"AJ?" He asked immediately stepping to the side and letting her in. "What are you doing here?"

"I missed you." AJ informed him walking into the dimly lit shop. "I also packed you up a late dinner because I know you didn't eat today."

"I'm actually starving." He admitted taking the bag from her. "You shouldn't be walking around at this time."

"Yet I survived." She teased taking her jacket off. "The shop looks really good."

"Yea? We're still getting it all together." Punk said to her.

"Why didn't you come home tonight?" AJ asked bluntly.

"Work." He shrugged and she eyed the shop that had only two cars in it.

"I know you a little better than that." she smirked following him into his office where he sat behind the desk with the food she brought him.

"I don't want to talk about it." Punk said shaking his head. "I just want to forget this day."

"I saw the new SUV outside." AJ said to him. "It's nice."

"What?" Punk asked looking up at her. "I didn't get a new car."

"It's the same car you sent me a picture of." AJ shrugged and Punk shook his head.

"I told him I didn't want his fucking car or help." Punk muttered under his breath and throwing the sandwich down.

"What's going on?" She asked following him out of the office now. "Did you and Jack have a fight?"

"He's not my father stop trying to push him on me." Punk snapped at her.

"I didn't tell you to get a car from him that was you." AJ reminded him.

"You're always telling me how he's asking for me and hinting around about him. Fuck him." Punk spat. "So I guess you did have a fight with him." AJ mumbled as she followed her angry husband outside. "It's a nice car." She shrugged.

"Don't get attached I'm bringing it back." Punk said looking at it with disgust.

"What's the big deal Phil? Whether you like or not he is your father." AJ argued.

"It's so easy for you to say that." Punk laughed bitterly. "He can't show up 35 years later and decide to be a father."

"Why not?" AJ asked.

"Because he just fucking can't!" Punk yelled.

"Why are you yelling at me?" AJ asked calmly as she was growing annoyed. "What happened today?"

"Nothing." He said quietly shaking his head. "I'll take you back home I'll probably be here for a while."

"I don't want to go home." AJ scoffed.

"Just get out of here." He said shaking his head and looking at the car.

"You won't even look at me." She said to him. "Are you mad at me?"

"No I'm not I just want to be alone." He said to her.

"Should have thought about that before you asked me to marry you." AJ shrugged and he didn't even respond, instead he busied himself kicking each tire of the car to test them. "What is wrong with you? You're really scaring me Phil. Tell me what happened with Jack or I'll ask him myself and you know he'll tell me."

"I wish you'd stop talking to him." Punk said to her still not looking at her. "I would never befriend someone who hurt you like he did to me."

"Is that what this is all about?" She asked surprised. "I didn't think it bothered you that much."

"It does." Punk said to her.

"Fine." She said simply. "I'll never speak to him again."

"Really?" Punk asked.

"Really." She said to him. "But you have to tell me what happened today first or at least explain to me why you can't look me in the eye because that's the worst feeling in the world."

"I'm sorry." He said quietly and leaned against the truck as he finally looked over to her and she walked over.

"What happened?" she asked softly wrapping her arms around his waist but keeping her distance so she could look up at him.

"I met Daren today." he told her and her face fell.

"What?" She whispered. "How? Where?"

"He was at Jack's dealership trying to trade in his car or get cash for it I don't know." He said to her.

"What did you do?" AJ asked feeling her heart stop.

"Nothing." Punk said pushing her away gently. "Jack didn't even give me a fucking chance! The second I grabbed him Jack jumped him."

"I don't understand." AJ stated. "That's why you're mad?"

"It wasn't his job to do that." Punk pointed out. "You're my wife."

"I am, but I got justice" AJ reminded him. "Why would you even think about attacking him?"

"Are you serious AJ?" He asked with a laugh.

"You want to end up arrested?" AJ asked him. "We have a baby on the way and you want to run around and hit people? How could you be so stupid?"

"It's my job to protect you." Punk reminded her coldly.

"I didn't need protection I wasn't even there!" AJ laughed. "You still beat yourself up over what happened and I don't know why. You weren't there that night and I'm glad you weren't because I don't know what you would have done."

"It wouldn't have happened at all." Punk told her seriously. "I should have confronted him when I spoke to you at dinner the week before but you wouldn't let me."

"So now it's my fault?" AJ smirked. "The stuff with Daniel is history and I grew so much from what happened. Why do you let this still bother you?"

"Because it's you." He said simply. "You're my wife, you're my life, you're the mother of my daughter." he counted off. "I hate what happened to you so much that yes, of course it still eats at me. I always imagine all of the things I could have done to help you instead while you were being dragged down an alley by some guy who posed as and educator who tried to take advantage of you. I was sitting in the shop with Jason watching the Hawks game."

Punk sat on the curb of the street and AJ sat down next to him. His face dropped into his hands and she wrapped her small arms around one of his large ones.

"If you had truly thought I was in trouble you would have been there. You couldn't have predicted what happened." AJ reminded him sweetly. "And the most important thing to remember is that I'm ok. Nothing so terrible happened. I wasn't sexually assaulted it was only attempted." She also reminded him. "And what almost happened to me isn't worth you getting in trouble. That would kill me."

"You don't get it." Punk said looking over to her.

"I get your desire to want to protect me and defend me." She said to him. "I have the same exact urges with you and if the situation was reversed I'd be feeling the same way as you. I want to leave the past in the past because we have such a bright future." She reminded him taking his hand and placing it over her small belly. "That's our girl. No stupid decisions like hitting people that could risk her future. Everything we do now we have to think about her."

"I know." He agreed.

"I also think Jack was trying to protect you." AJ reasoned. "I don't know why you're so mad at him unless there's something else I should know."

"That's it." Punk admitted. "I'm just jealous he got to hit him."

"He was being a parent to you for the first time in his life." AJ pointed out.

"I heard his name and it's like I left my body." Punk admitted to her. "And I fucking froze when Jack started hitting him."

"Because you're not a violent man." AJ said simply. "I love that about you. You're a lover, not a fighter."

"I used to be a fighter." Punk scoffed looking straight ahead.

"You also used to shit in diapers." She teased. "You're an adult. Do you know what happened to me or the baby if you were to get thrown in jail or leave us for any reason?" She asked him. "You're the provider, we'd be out on the street and I would never survive without you."

"I won't let that happen." He promised her and moved and wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against his chest.

"I really do like the car." AJ said looking at it. "I can see myself driving that."

"I don't think you'd reach the steering wheel." He said seriously and she pinched his thigh.

"Can we go home now?" She asked as she yawned. "The baby makes me sleepy and I can't sleep without you."

"Yea let's get the hell out of here." Punk said standing up and taking her hand to help her up.

The next night AJ was at the crisis center and she was joined by Alex who was a student at the college and AJ's new buddy.

"She's here again?" AJ's supervisor Brenda questioned nodding over to Alex who was reading in the corner.

"Yea she just doesn't want to be home." AJ said to her.

"You're doing a great job here AJ." Brenda said sitting on the edge of AJ's desk. "But you can't get overly involved with your cases."

"She's not a case she's a person." AJ reminded her.

"AJ, you're not a certified counselor yet." Brenda told her. "I know Alex's story about abuse at home-"

"Why haven't we done anything about it?" AJ questioned

"Because it's not up to us to decide." Brenda reminded her. "Alex isn't a minor and there are no children in the house so we have no legal right to act. I just need you to understand that you can't let her hang out here every night. There are other girls and guys for that matter that need your attention."

"Alex doesn't even bother me." AJ shrugged. "She sits there and reads."

"She likes attention." Brenda whispered. "She did this last year too with another girl here."

"Are you saying she's lying about the abuse?" AJ asked stunned.

"No." Brenda said to her. "I'm just saying you can't always believe everything either."

"She has bruises." AJ whispered harshly.

"Be careful AJ." Brenda ordered standing up. "You're going to make a great counselor AJ, just as soon as you learn to shut those emotions off at the end of the day. It doesn't make you any less human when you do it keeps you sharp and most importantly safe. I also thought I told you not to stay past nine."

"People call after nine." AJ shrugged.

"You're pregnant AJ and it's very important that you get rest. There are other girls here to answer phones." Brenda smiled.

"I get plenty of rest." AJ said brushing it off. "I just sit here." she pointed out.

"Did you eat today?" Brenda asked.

"No you sound like my husband." AJ scoffed. "And he's dropping by to bring some food."

"Good." Brenda said to her. "I'm heading out, have a good night."

"I'll see you Friday." AJ said as Brenda left the room.

AJ peered over to Alex who was laughing at something on her phone and eyed her which she seemed to have felt since she looked over to AJ and walked over to her.

"You want to see the pictures from my Italy trip?" Alex asked holding her phone out.

"Sure." AJ said taking the phone and scrolling through the pictures. Most were family photos and everyone seems genuinely happy. "Who is that?" AJ asked pointing to a young man.

"That's my brother." Alex told her.

"You didn't mention to me you had a brother." AJ noted passing her phone back to her.

"Of course I did." Alex laughed. "You have that pregnancy brain thing."

"Do your parents hit him too?" AJ questioned.

"I don't really know AJ." Alex said shaking her head. "You know I don't like thinking about this."

"Alex I want to help you." AJ insisted. "I need all the information in order to do that."

"You do know it all. And you are helping by letting me hang out with you and being my friend." Alex said to her. "We are friends, right?"

"Of course." AJ smiled.

"Good." Alex smiled then the door opened.

"Food delivery." Jason announced holding up a bag.

"For me?" AJ asked excitedly standing up.

"Of course." Jason said he went to give her a hug but she just snatched the bag and sat down.

"I'm starving."AJ said to him.

"What is it?" Alex asked just as excited.

"A double bacon cheeseburger and large fries." AJ said sticking her head into the bag. "From my favorite place."

"Can I have some?" Alex asked.

"Sure." AJ said and passed the bag to Alex. "I know Phil did not approve that food."

"He went to see Jack about the SUV." Jason told her. "Offered to pick you up something."

"You didn't have to do that I know you're busy." AJ told him

"It got me out of the house for ten minutes." Jason said to her. "So this is where you spend most of your nights." He said looking around.

"I'm Alex." Alex introduced sticking her hand out to him.

"Jason." Jason smiled shaking her hand.

"You're AJ's brother. You didn't tell me he was so cute." Alex said to AJ causing Jason smile smugly.

"You leave that out, huh?" Jason asked AJ.

"Just eat." AJ said to Alex with a laugh. "How did Phil seem?"

"He seems fine." Jason assured her.

"Good." AJ said relieved.

"Want to stay and hang out?" Alex offered.

"Uh no I've got two kids waiting for me to tuck them in, but next time." Jason promised.

"Thank you for the food." She said as he leaned down to kiss her cheek.

"Eat it and then make sure you get rest." Jason warned her.

"Why do people keep saying that?" AJ asked in disbelief. "I get plenty of rest."

"Sure." Jason snorted.

Punk drove his pickup truck into Jack's lot that was just getting ready to close.

"Didn't think I'd see you." Jack said as Punk climbed out of his old truck.

"Trading the truck in." Punk shrugged passing him the paperwork and keys.

"So you're not stubborn enough to bring back the SUV? AJ must have gotten to you." Jack teased.

"She always does." Punk admitted annoyed. "About yesterday-"

"No need to apologize." Jack assured him and Punk narrowed his eyes.

"I wasn't going to apologize I was going to tell you to stay out of my business next time." Punk huffed. "Did Daren call the cops?"

"Nah." Jack said waving it off. "He's a little bitch."

"Look, I've been thinking about going to see mom this weekend." Punk said to him.

"Yea?" Jack asked intrigued.

"I know you said you'd want to come because she'd at least recognize you." Punk reminded him and Jack nodded.

"I'm free Saturday." Jack said a little too quickly.

"You want to see her again for yourself, don't you?" Punk asked.

"I'm not completely heartless." Jack said with a roll of his eyes. "I mean, she was my wife. I threw her out of our home and even though I'd do it again if I had the chance I do feel like I didn't do enough to help her. I just want to apologize."

"What if she doesn't recognize us neither of us?" Punk asked.

"That will be awkward." Jack noted honestly. "But you want some answers and I want to see her so we'll deal with it. Does AJ know you're going?"

"I mentioned it. If I say for sure I'm going she'll want to come and I don't want her in a mental institution or facing a woman I know nothing about it." Punk said to him.

"I agree." Jack said to him.

"So how did it feel hitting him?" Punk asked seriously.

"Damn good." Jack grinned. "I know you would have gotten more satisfaction out of it though."

"I have to let it go." Punk told him. "So AJ tells me."

"She's right." Jack agreed. "You've got more important things to worry about now. You have a home and a family depending on you."

"Yea I know." Punk agreed. "So uh, I'll see you Saturday?"

"Yea see you Saturday." Jack nodded.

Punk walked into the crisis center after eleven when AJ hadn't called to come get her and found her sleeping at her desk like she usually was. He smirked because her face was sticking to a hamburger wrapper.

"Rise and shine beautiful." Punk said shaking her shoulder gently.

"It's morning?" She almost cried and he laughed.

"It's still night and you're still in the center, alone." he said to her. "After I've asked you a thousand times to not be left alone here."

"Alex was here." AJ said sticking her head up then saw a note she left. "Oh, she left."

"Oh." Punk mocked pulling AJ's chair out so she would stand up.

Punk collected her books and other items while she put her jacket on.

"Ready?" Punk asked and she nodded tiredly as she walked out the door with him holding it open for her.

Once inside the car AJ put on her seat belt then looked straight ahead and squinted her eyes.

"Don't put the lights on." AJ whispered as Punk was about to start the car.

"Why? What are we looking at?" Punk questioned.

"That's Alex." She said pointing to the young girl getting into a car. "That's her dad."

"So?" Punk asked.

"So? She told me her parents don't know she comes here and she doesn't look like she's in trouble since she gave him a hug the second she got into the car." AJ said to him. "She's been lying to me. Brenda was right."

"What are you talking about?" Punk asked. "Why would anybody lie about being abused?"

"I don't know." AJ said coldly. "But she took away valuable time I could have been spending with someone really in need."

"Maybe you don't know the whole story." Punk said as the car in front of them took off and Punk finally started his new SUV up.

"Phil the way she spoke of her parents made it seem like she was sneaking out a window and they'd kill her if they saw her out. Her father seemed relieved and happy." AJ argued.

"Maybe it wasn't her father." Punk suggested.

"I just saw family photos." AJ said shaking her head in disgust. "Take me to her house, I'll give you the address."

"No fucking way." Punk laughed. "It's late and you're going home."

"Phil-" She began to argue.

"Home." He said sternly. "Young girls lie AJ you can't take it personally."

"I do take it personally." AJ huffed resting against the car seat.

"Look, there's something I want to talk to you about." He started. "I'm going to see my mom Saturday."

"What time? I'm working Saturday Phil." She sighed.

"I'm going with Jack." He told her and she seemed surprised. "I don't want you there."

"I'll try not to be too insulted." she muttered.

"Don't be. I don't know the woman and she lives in a mental institution and she has a history of violence." He reminded her. "This is something I have to do."

"I get that." AJ said giving him an encouraging smile. "I'm just glad you won't be alone."

"I don't know if Jack is the best company but at least she knows him." Punk shrugged.

"Why are you doing all of this?" AJ asked. "Do you really want to know her or just the medical history?"

"Medical history." Punk said honestly. "I don't think I'm going to build a strong bond with her being locked away."

"You never know." She shrugged. "I'm just glad you're doing this because I think you'll get some peace."

"I hope so." He admitted. "I just wonder what David would say about it."

"David would probably be really proud of you." AJ told him. "He loved you like his own and that will never change even if you start letting Jack in a little more."

"It kind of creeps me out when you say that because you're David's daughter and then I'm David's son and we're married." He admitted and she laughed.

"You know what I mean." She said smiling as he glanced over.

"I know." he said softly.

"Don't use David as an excuse to not let your biological parents in or at least getting to know them if you want to because he'd hate that." AJ said to him.
"He'd want you to do what puts you at ease and support you."

"He would." Punk agreed.

"And if you change your mind about me coming on Saturday..." she trailed off.

"I won't but thanks." He smirked.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Seeds have been planted...